SAUL, ABBA, B. BAṬNIT:

Tanna of the second and first centuries B.C. According to Derenbourg, his mother was a Batanian proselyte, whence he derived his name "ben Baṭnit"; it appears from Ned. 23a, however, that "Baṭnit" is a masculine proper name. Abba Saul was engaged in commerce with R. Eleazar b. Zadok, together with whom he issued a regulation referring to the Sabbath law (Shab. xxiv. 5). It is said of him that he filled his liquid measures with wine on the eve of the feast-days in order to be able to give it to the children on those days (Beẓah iii. 8). He is the transmitter, or perhaps the author (comp. Bacher, "Ag. Tan." i. 46, note 2), of a sentence referring to the outrages and misdemeanors committed by some of the priestly families (Pes. 57a).